Asking for Directions

Hook

Giving directions is half the skill. The other half is asking politely, understanding the answer, and asking again when you don’t understand. That last part is a real A1 skill, not a weakness: everyone does it.

Notice

  • Excuse me, where’s the bank?
  • How do I get to the station?
  • Is there a pharmacy near here?
  • Is it far? — No, it’s about five minutes’ walk.
  • Sorry, could you repeat that, please?
  • Could you speak more slowly, please?
  • Thank you very much. — You’re welcome.

Which two words start every polite question to a stranger?

Rule

Asking: start with Excuse me, then:

  • Where is (Where’s) the…? — for a place you know is there
  • How do I get to the…? — for the way
  • Is there a… near here? — when you don’t know if there is one
  • Is it far? / How far is it? — It’s about 10 minutes on foot / by bus.

When you don’t understand: Sorry, could you repeat that? · Could you speak more slowly? · Left or right? · Can you show me on the map?

Checking: repeat the directions back: So, straight on, then the second left?

Dialogue

A: Excuse me, is there a post office near here?
B: Yes, there’s one on Park Road. Go straight on and take the first left. It’s next to the bank.
A: Sorry, could you repeat that, please?
B: Sure. Straight on, first left. It’s next to the bank.
A: Is it far?
B: No, it’s about five minutes’ walk.
A: Thank you very much!
B: You’re welcome.

Watch Out

  • ✗ Where is bank? → ✓ Where is the bank?
  • ✗ How I get to the station? → ✓ How do I get to the station?
  • ✗ Repeat! → ✓ Sorry, could you repeat that, please? (more polite)
  • ✗ Is there pharmacy near? → ✓ Is there a pharmacy near here?

Practice

  1. Complete: “___, where is the station?”
  2. “How do I ___ to the hospital?”
  3. You don’t know if there is a bank. Ask.
  4. You didn’t understand. Ask politely.
  5. Ask about distance.
  6. Reply to “Thank you very much!”
  7. Put in order: I / get / how / the museum / do / to?
  8. Check the directions: “straight on, second right”.
Show the answers
  1. Excuse me
  2. get
  3. Is there a bank near here?
  4. Sorry, could you repeat that, please?
  5. Is it far? / How far is it?
  6. You’re welcome.
  7. How do I get to the museum?
  8. So, straight on, then the second right?

Your Turn

Read the dialogue out loud twice, once as A and once as B. Then write your own dialogue of 6–8 lines for a different place (the cinema, a hotel, the library).

Connect

Build polite questions like “How do I get to the station?” in our Sentence Builder.

Try our Sentence Builder →

Our Grammar Quiz has A1 questions on questions and imperatives.

Try our Grammar Quiz →

CEFR A1 — Spoken Interaction: I can interact in a simple way provided the other person is prepared to repeat or rephrase things more slowly.

Azizul Hakim
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